Washburn murder suspect facing multiple Arkansas charges

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

By Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com

Felonies in Washington County slowing down extradition process

A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her grandfather in Washburn may be in Arkansas for some time, as he is facing multiple felony charges in Washington County that are slowing his extradition to Barry County.

After Christopher Paschall, 37, of Springdale, Ark., was arrested on Monday Mick Epperly, Barry County Sheriff, said he hoped to have Paschall extradited to the Barry County jail in a week's time, but sticking to that timeline is now looking less and less likely.

"He has a number of charges in Arkansas that are slowing his extradition, and they may even try their case before we get to try ours," Epperly said. "Those charges change the extradition process, but he's not going anywhere and we have our charges waiting for him."

As of Friday morning, Paschall is facing charges in Barry County of first-degree murder, a class A felony, first-degree assault, a class A felony, and armed criminal action, an unclassified felony. His bond is set at $1 million, and more charges are expected to be filed.

The charges stem from the alleged killing of 29-year-old Casey Brace and her grandfather, 67-year-old Herbert Townsend, on Monday at Townsend's home near Farm Road 1055 and 8th Street in Washburn.

Paschall is being held in the Washington County (Ark.) Detention Center on a $100,000 bond on charges of possession of a firearm by certain persons, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft by receiving.

After allegedly killing Brace and Townsend, Paschall fled to his mother's home in Springdale, where Springdale's SWAT Team located him and allegedly found him in possession of a glass pipe believed to be used to smoke methamphetamine, as well as 19 firearms, including two police believe were stolen.

Paschall is also embroiled in another case out of Washington County, as he has accused two other men of kidnapping and beating him in September 2014. Also being held in the Washington County Detention Center are Timothy Ford, 35, and Julio Gonzales, 36, who allegedly kidnapped Paschall at gunpoint on Sept. 3, 2014. The pair, along with at least one more man, took Paschall to a wooded area near Beaver Lake. Paschall said after they broke out his car windows with a baseball bat and slashed his tires, the trio beat and tased him.

Court documents say the Washington County deputy investigating the case was originally called to look at an abandoned vehicle with broken windows and slashed tires, and that's when the deputy found Paschall wet and with blood on his head. He was taken to the Washington Regional Medical Center and treated for his injuries.

Paschall claims Gonzales accused him of being a police informant, telling the two other men they should kill him and leave him at the lake.

On Monday at about 1:30 p.m. in Washburn, Paschall allegedly shot and killed Brace, then shot her grandfather four times. Townsend was transported to Cox South Hospital in Springfield and died from his injuries that night.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Barry County Deputy Bill Watkins, Townsend was conscious when he arrived and was holding a rifle.

"As I looked over a chair, [Herbert Townsend] raised a rifle toward me," Watkins said in the statement. "When I heard [Townsend] drop the rifle, I went to him and seen his face was covered in blood.

"I asked, 'Do you know who did this.' [Townsend] said, 'Chris Paschall,' [and] was unable to say anything from this point."

After shooting Brace and Townsend, Paschall took his 2-year-old daughter and fled to Springdale. The girl was found at the home unharmed.

The 2-year-old is one of Brace's three children, two of which were fathered by Paschall. According to court records, Cathy Townsend, Brace's mother, has filed for guardianship of all three children.

Paschall was no stranger to the Barry County court system, or to deputies who work in the area. Epperly said Paschall was an immediate suspect for the crime because of the Barry County Sheriff Office's recent dealings with him.

"We've dealt with him over the last six months for property damage to stalking," Epperly said. "He disconnected a propane line once, as well, so stuff like that is one of the reasons he was a suspect right off the bat."

An order of protection against Paschall was granted on Oct. 20, 2014, meaning Paschall was to stay 300 or more feet away from Brace, and was not permitted not communicate with her or enter her home.

According to court records, Paschall allegedly violated the order of protection on Nov. 24, 2014, and again on Dec. 15, 2014, facing class A misdemeanors for both incidents.

Paschall also received a speeding ticket on Nov. 15 in Seligman for going 20-25 miles per hour over the speed limit.